May 11
INDIA:
Alwar rapists should be hanged: Mayawati----A woman was allegedly gang-raped by
5 men while her husband was beaten up in Thanagaji area of Alwar district in
Rajasthan on April 26.
Coming down heavily on Congress-led Rajasthan state government, BSP chief
Mayawati demanded death sentence for the accused in the Alwar gang-rape case
and asked the Supreme Court of India to take Suo Motu cognizance of the
incident and act against the Rajasthan government and police.
“The guilty in Alwar gang-rape case should be hanged till death. Supreme Court
should take action against the Congress government, police and the
administration in the state. This matter is not just related to Dalits but
entire womanhood,” said the BSP chief while interacting with media persons here
on Saturday.
Mayawati also charged the election commission with inaction against those who
were indulging in making derogatory remarks against women during the ensuing
polls. The case of gang rape came to the fore in Alwar where a Dalit woman
alleged that she was gang-raped by 5 men in front of her husband.
The couple was travelling on a bike when they were waylaid by 5 men who beat up
the husband and recorded a video of the crime and circulated it on social
media. The incident took place on April 26 but a case was registered on May 2
as the victim was being threatened by the accused.
Police have arrested all 6 accused -- Indra Raj Gurjar, Mahesh Gurjar, Ashok
Gurjar, Hansraj Gurjar, Chhote Lal Gurjar and Mukesh Gurjar -- on charges of
gang rape and filming the crime.
The Rajasthan government has been facing flak from the opposition BJP after the
number of rape and abduction cases shot up in last one month. The BSP chief
claimed that the Ashok Gehlot government had proved to be a total failure in
ensuring justice to the victim. She also claimed that as per her belief,
Congress was incapable of delivering to the gang-rape victim.
Mayawati accused the Gehlot government of intimidating the victim's asking them
to keep the incident within wraps till the end of the Lok Sabha elections.
“There my people mounted pressure on the state government to act and then the
authorities moved,” claimed the BSP chief.
On Friday, National SC/ST Commission Vice Chairman L Murgan, recommended that
an FIR be registered against police officers whose alleged negligence led to
delay in action in the Alwar gang rape case. The victim’s husband had claimed
that following the incident, he approached the police but the FIR was delayed
till May 2.
The victim’s family submitted a memorandum for speedy trial, compensation and
government job. The Commission has also asked the state government to check how
the victim’s husband can be provided compensation under SC/ST (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act.
(source: newindianexpress.com)
BAHRAIN:
Prevent Execution of 2 Men (Bahrain: UA 69.17)
Urgent Action
On 6 May 2019, the Bahraini Court of Cassation upheld the convictions and
death sentences of Ali Mohamed Hakeem al-Arab and Ahmed Issa Ahmed al-Malali.
The 2 men were convicted of offenses which include “forming and joining a
‘terrorist’ group”, following an unfair mass trial. Both men were tortured.
The death sentences will now go to the King for ratification.
Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or
both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
Sheikh Hamad bin 'Issa Al Khalifa
King of Bahrain
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa'a Palace, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1766 4587
Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive NW
Washington DC 20008
Phone: 1 202 342 1111 -- Fax: 1 202 362 2192
Email: ambsecret...@bahrainembassy.org
Twitter: @BahrainEmbDC
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
Your Highness,
On 6 May 2019 the Court of Cassation upheld Ali Mohamed Hakeem al-Arab and
Ahmed Issa Ahmed al-Malali’s convictions and death sentences. The Fourth High
Criminal Court in Bahrain had convicted the two men of offenses which include
“forming and joining a ‘terrorist’ group”, after a mass trial involving 60
people in January 2018. A year later, on 28 January 2019 their sentences were
upheld on appeal. Security officers tortured and ill-treated the two men to
force them to sign “confessions” they had not read.
In a December 2018 letter, a group of United Nations experts stated that they
were “extremely concerned by allegations that confessions implicating several
defendants were obtained under torture and used as evidence in court.” The
defendants in the letter included Ali al-Arab and Ahmed al-Malali.
I call upon your Highness not to ratify the death sentences imposed on the two
men and ensure they are not executed. I urge you to order a retrial that fully
complies with international fair trial standards, excludes evidence obtained
under torture and without recourse to the death penalty; and to carry out an
independent and impartial investigation into their allegations of torture. I
acknowledge the authorities’ duty to prevent crime and bring those responsible
to justice, but emphasize that this should always be done in accordance with
Bahrain’s international human rights obligations; and urge you to commute all
death sentences to terms of imprisonment and immediately establish an official
moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
Kind regards,
(source: Amnesty International)
MALAWI:
Meet Malawi’s first female lawyer who fought for a multi-party system and spent
12 years on death row
Vera Chirwa made history in 1966 as the first female to become a lawyer in
Malawi when she was called to the Bar in London after years of studying and
raising a family. Although her name is not widely known across the globe and in
Africa, within the region of East Africa, she is celebrated as the woman who
stood up for the right of women and the political development of Malawi.
Born in 1932 when Malawi was still known as Nyasaland, Vera was the first child
and daughter of a medical officer who believed that despite her gender, she was
entitled to a good education. She spent the early parts of her childhood living
with her paternal grandparents and became very close to her grandfather, who
was one of the first black Reverands in Malawi.
In 1951 at 19, shortly after finishing school, she married Orton Chirwa, a
celebrated lawyer and politician who was by then a teacher. After 3 kids, her
husband left for the UK to study law and returned in 1958 becoming the leader
of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and then Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General after the MCP’s victory in the 1961 elections.
Vera started the Nyasaland African Women League to support the MCP’s fight for
an independent country while working as a clerk. However, the couple had to
leave the country to escape the wrath of the president after a few
misunderstandings in 1964.
The couple settled in Tanzania during which time Vera went to study Law and
became Malawi’s 1st female lawyer. After her call to the bar in the UK, she
moved back to Tanzania to work as a prosecuting state attorney.
While in Tanzania, Vera secretly communicated with the MCP and the Nyasaland
African Women League to help fight against the ruling government and for a
multi-party system but unfortunately, her dealings with the two bodies were
leaked. On December 24, 1981, the couple and their son were abducted by
Malawaian security in Zambia. The two were taken to Malawi and charged with
high treason with a death sentence that followed in 1983 when they were
pronounced guilty.
Vera would spend the next 12 years of her life awaiting her death. She was
separated from her husband who she only saw again in 1992 three weeks before he
died at age 73.
On January 24, 1993, at age 61, Vera received a pardon from president Banda and
upon her release, she immediately started work on leading campaigns for police
reforms and the end of the death penalty in Malawi.
She was appointed by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights as a
Special Reporter on prison condition in Africa and founded the Malawi Centre
for Advice, Research and Education on Rights (Malawi CARER).\ She also started
work on her autobiography – Fearless Fighter – which was released in 2007. She
has also received several awards from human rights organisations and school in
and outside of Malawi.
After her release from prison, she is quoted as saying: “I am still available,
watching with keen interest. If the current government fails, I will certainly
stand as a presidential candidate in the next elections.”
She continues to be an example of bravery and ambition to women and paved the
way for women in law and politics.
(source: face2faceafrica.com)
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